Numerous genes encoding the C2H2 zinc-finger domain have been characterized from a wide variety of eukaryotes, including plants. The canonical ZF (zinc finger) sequence (CX2-4CX3FX5LX2HX3-5H) contains two cysteines and two histidines that coordinate a zinc atom, creating a compact nucleic acid-binding domain. The majority of such proteins characterized to date are DNA-binding transcription factors, and many have been shown to play crucial roles in the development of plants, animals and fungi.